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Khalaf
AI Moutaery
Fathi
Akhdar
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Dept
of Neurosciences
Riyadh
Armed Forces Hosp
Riyadh
Saudi
Arabia
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Correspondence:
Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital
PO Box 7897,
Riyadh 11159
Saudi Arabia
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Implications
of Road Accidents in Saudi Arabia
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Road
traffic accidents continue to cause immense social, economic
and medical implications for the victims, their families,
society and the nation. 81% of the deaths in Ministry of health
hospital are due to road accidents and 1/5 of the beds are
occupied by traffic accident victims. 1,2 The economic cost
due to road traffic accidents is SR 21 billion per year (US
$ 5.6 billion) which is equivalent to 4.6 % of the national
revenue.(3)
Road traffic accidents continue to have major implication
on medical, social and financial status of the victims. There
is a major change in family dynamics following an accident
or disability. Huge amounts of medical resources are involved
in caring for accident victims. 80% of the victims are below
40 years and 30% of the victims are children with head and
facial injuries are a major cause of admission amongst accident
victims. Medical care resources are being directed to look
after accident victims at the expense of caring for patients
with natural illnesses. Total number of injuries and deaths
in the past 25 years have been over 1/2 million (564762 person)
which is equivalent to 3.5% of the total population of Saudi
Arabia. (4,5)
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We looked at the WHO Health statistics (5), the traffic statistics
from the Ministry of Interior, General Traffic Department, (4,5) Ministry
of Health annual health and deaths reportl (1,2) and a number of studies
being undertaken in Saudi Arabia to assess the social, financial and
medical implications of accidents. We also interviewed some of the victims
and met traffic police officers and apprehended drivers. We studied
the Saudi Arabia Monetary Agency annual report highlighting the financial
implications of the road accidents.(3)
Main effects of the vehicle accidents on an individual are social,
medical and economic. The loss of a family member leads to a change
in the family dynamics and the society they belong. It brings about
grief and emotional problems. If the person lost is the breadwinner
the whole family will be affected more severely. The total number of
beds in 175 Ministry of Health hospitals is 26,737. At any time 2/3
of these bed are occupied by road traffic accident victims. This explains
the huge medical resources employed for the road traffic accident victims.
This is at the expense of caring for patients with other illnesses.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health during the past 2 years has shown
traffic accidents as the leading cause of death followed by tumours
and cardiac diseases.(1,2)
About 46% of the injuries received in the Eastern Province hospital
were due to road traffic accidents. 80% of these victims were below
40 years of age with children below the age of 12 constituting 30% of
the victims. Male to female ratio was 9:1. None of the victims wore
seat belts. 49% had head and face injuries. 50% stayed less than 10
days, 25% more than 30 days. 33% of the long staying patients were discharged
with disabilities resulting in major neurological deficits, i.e. hemiplegia,
paraplegia or tetraplegia.(7)
Head and facial injuries were the main effects of road traffic accidents
in Riyadh resulting in 30% of injuries and 26% of deaths. 73.6% of hemiplegic,
paraplegic or tetraplegic in Saudi Arabia are due to road traffic accidents.
70.2% of the deaths in 1982 in Riyadh area registered in accidents and
emergency department in Riyadh Medical Centre were due to road accidents.(8)
Head and facial injuries were the main effects of road traffic accidents
in Riyadh resulting in 30% of injuries and 26% of deaths. 73.6% of hemiplegic,
paraplegic or tetraplegic in Saudi Arabia are due to road traffic accidents.
70.2% of the deaths in 1982 in Riyadh area registered in accidents and
emergency department in Riyadh Medical Centre were due to road accidents.(8)
Minor accidents in Saudi Arabia are less than those in USA but the major
accidents causing injuries and deaths in Saudi Arabia is 17.4% which
is more than double of that in the USA (i.e., 8.31%). Serious accidents
causing serious injuries are twice as common in Saudi Arabia. Injuries
resulting in death are 8 times more in Saudi Arabia than in the USA.
The ratio of accidents to the injuries in Saudi Arabia is 8:6 which
is much higher in comparison to the interna tional estimate of 8:1.
In USA the ratio of accidents to deaths was 283:1 in 1983 com pared
to 32:1 recorded in Saudi Arabia in 1995.(9)
The economic effect of the accidents in Saudi Arabia is huge. Every
year SR. 21 billion are spent on road accident victims. This has a significant
impact on the national economy.3 In industrial countries 1-2% of the
national revenue is spent on the care for accident victims. In Saudi
Arabia, even the most conservative estimate suggests a loss of 2.2%
of the national income whereas more liberal and realistic assessment
suggest a loss of 9.5% of the national income. The national income of
Saudi Arabia being more than SR. 450 billion. This financial loss in
Saudi Arabia is almost 3-4 times that of in USA, UK and Australia.
Implications of road accidents in Saudi Arabia remain enormous. Prevention
remains the key to dealing with these losses. Education of the general
public and more stringent legislation for traffic regulation needs to
be implemented.
| 1. |
Head injury, Graham M Teasdale, J.
of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry, 1995, 58: 526-539. |
| 2. |
Ministry of Health, Annual Health Report,
Riyadh, 1995, |
| 3. |
Ministry of Health, Deaths reports
for 1995, Riyadh 1995. |
| 4. |
SAMA; The 32nd annual report, The economic
and statistics Research Office; 1417H (1995). |
| 5. |
Traffic statistics from 1391 H-1417H. |
| 6. |
Ministry of Interior, General Traffic
Department, Riyadh, (1995) |
| 7. |
WHO World Health Statistics, World
Health Organisation, Geneva 1996 |
| 8. |
AI Habdan Ibrahim; Road traffic accident
admissions to King Fahad University Hospital in AI Khobar, Proceedings
of international conferences on road traffic accidents, Riyadh,
1412H. |
| 9. |
Isam Sheriff & Ali AI Ghamdi; Analysis
of injuries resulting from road traffic accidents in Riyadh district;
Engineering Science ; Vol.B; 235-250; 1416H |
| 10. |
Accident facts; National Safety Council;
2nd edition; USA, 1994 |
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